SchleswigHolsteinGottorp

Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost state of Germany, located between the Danish border to the north and the Baltic and North Seas to the east and west. It is bordered by Lower Saxony and Hamburg to the south and by Mecklenburg-Vorpommern across the water. The state covers about 15,800 square kilometers and has a population of roughly 2.8 to 2.9 million. Its capital and largest city is Kiel; Lübeck and Flensburg are also major urban centers. The region comprises two historic peninsulas, Schleswig in the north and Holstein in the south, linked by the Eider River.

The coast features the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park and a mix of North Sea and Baltic Sea littoral landscapes. The North Frisian Islands (including Sylt, Föhr and Amrum) lie off the west coast, while the eastern Baltic coast includes towns such as Lübeck and Travemünde. The Kiel Canal, a key maritime shortcut, connects the North Sea with the Baltic Sea and passes near Kiel and the region’s ports.

Historically, Schleswig-Holstein was part of the Danish realm for centuries. After the Second Schleswig War of 1864 it came under Prussian and Austrian administration, later becoming part of the German Empire. In 1920 plebiscites divided the region into Northern Schleswig (now part of Denmark) and Southern Schleswig within Germany. The border remains a cultural boundary, with Danish and Frisian minorities recognized under law.

Economy and culture: the state has a diversified economy that includes shipbuilding, mechanical engineering, renewable energy and agriculture, with tourism centered on coastlines, historic towns like Lübeck and Kiel, and island landscapes. Schleswig-Holstein also hosts cultural institutions and events such as Kiel Week and preserves Hanseatic heritage in its cities.